K League

K League
Country South Korea South Korea
Confederation AFC
Founded 1983
Divisions K League Classic
K League Challenge
Number of teams 23
Domestic cup(s) FA Cup
International cup(s) AFC Champions League
Current champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (Classic)
Daejeon Citizen (Challenge)
Most championships Seongnam FC (7)
Website Official Website

The K League (Korea Professional Football League) is South Korea's professional association football league including first division K League Classic and second division K League Challenge.[1][2] The fact that both the first and second divisions have very similar names has caused some degree of confusion and controversy[3]

History

The K League Classic was founded in 1983 as the Korean Super League, with five member clubs. The initial five clubs were Hallelujah FC, Yukong Elephants, POSCO Dolphins, Daewoo Royals, Kookmin Bank FC. Hallelujah FC won the inaugural title, finishing one point ahead of Daewoo Royals to lift the crown.

In 1998, Korea's football league was reformed and renamed the K League. (K League was official orthography by 2012) Since its creation, the league has expanded from an initial 5 to 16 clubs. Of the 5 inaugural clubs, only Yukong Elephants, POSCO Dolphins, and Daewoo Royals remain in the K League; Kookmin Bank FC dropped out of the league at the end of 1984, and Hallelujah FC followed the season after.

In 2013, K League introduced the division system. The first division's name is K League Classic, the second division's name is K League Challenge and the comprehensive brand name is K League.

Structure

Below the K League Classic, there is the K League Challenge, and below the K League Challenge, there is the National League, a closed semi-professional/amateur league with fifteen clubs, established in 2003. The fourth level of football in Korea is the Challengers League.

There was no official system of promotion and relegation. However, beginning in 2013, the champions of K League Challenge is eligible for promotion to the K League Classic, provided they had met certain criteria. In 2012 season, two teams from K League Classic was relegated to K League Challenge, and in 2013, two teams will be relegated to K League Challenge, and 11th placed team from K League Classic and the first placed team from K League Challenge will have a relegation play-off.

Clubs

Current K League Clubs

All-time K League Clubs

There have been a total of 19 member clubs in the history of the K League - those clubs are listed below with their current names (where applicable):

Club (Duration) Owner(s) Sponsor(s) Note
POSCO FC (1973–1983)
POSCO Dolphins (1983–1984)
POSCO Atoms (1985–1994)
Pohang Atoms (1995–1996)
Pohang Steelers (1997–present)		 POSCO Founded as a Semi-Professional FC on April 1973
Transferred into a Professional FC on February 1984
Hallelujah FC (1983–1985) defunct Shindongah Group Inauguration Date - 20 December 1980
Yukong Elephants (1983–1995)
Puchon Yukong (1996–1997.09)
Puchon SK (1997.10–2000)
Bucheon SK (2001–2005)
Jeju United (2006–present)		 SK Energy[1] in SK Group Inauguration Date - 17 December 1982
Saehan Motors FC (1979–1980)
Daewoo FC (1980–1983)
Daewoo Royals (1983–1995)
Pusan Daewoo Royals (1996–1999)
Pusan i.cons (2000–2002.07)
Pusan I'Cons (2002.07–2004)
Busan I'Park (2005–2011)
Busan IPark (2012–present)		 defunct Daewoo Group (1983–1999)
Hyundai Development Company (2000–present)		 Founded as a Semi-Professional FC in 1979
Refounded as a Professional FC
Inauguration Date - 3 December 1983
Kookmin Bank FC (1983–1984) Kookmin Bank Played as a Semi-Professional FC
Hyundai Horang-i (1984–1995)
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (1996–1998)
Ulsan Hyundai Horangi (1999–2007)
Ulsan Hyundai (2008–present)		 Hyundai Motor Company in Hyundai Group (1984–1997)
Hyundai Heavy Industries in Hyundai Heavy Industries Group (1998–present)		 Inauguration Date - 6 December 1983
Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso (1984–1990)
LG Cheetahs (1991–1995)
Anyang LG Cheetahs (1996–2003)
FC Seoul (2004–present)		 LG Group (1984–2004.05)
GS Group[2] (2004.06–present) 		Inauguration Date - 22 December 1983
Hanil Bank FC (1984–1986) Hanil Bank[3] Played as a Semi-Professional FC
Ilhwa Chunma (1989–1995)
Cheonan Ilhwa Chunma (1996–1999)
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (2000–2013)
Seongnam FC (2014–present)		 Ilhwa in Tongil Group (1989-2013)
Government of Seongnam
Citizen Stockholder (2014–present)		 Inauguration Date - 18 March 1989
Chonbuk Buffalo (1994) Bobaesoju (1994) Inauguration Date - 1993
Dissolution Date - 1994
Chonbuk Dinos (1995–1996)
Chonbuk Hyundai Dinos (1997–1999)
Chonbuk Hyundai Motors (2000–2005)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2006–present)		 Consortium of Hyunyang and Hyundai Motor Company in Hyundai Group (1995–1999.05)
Hyundai Motor Company in Hyundai Motor Group (1999.05–present)		 Inauguration Date - 12 December 1994
Chunnam Dragons (1995–2013)
Jeonnam Dragons (2014–present)		 POSCO Inauguration Date - 16 December 1994
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (1996–present) Samsung Electronics in Samsung Group (1996-2014.03)
Cheil Worldwide in Samsung Group (2014.04-present)		 Samsung Electronics Inauguration Date - 15 December 1995
Taejon Citizen (1997–2002)
Daejeon Citizen (2003–present)		 Government of Daejeon
Citizen Stockholder		 Hana Bank Inauguration Date - 12 March 1997
Daegu FC (2003–present) Government of Daegu
Citizen Stockholder		 Daegu Bank
Daesung Energy		 Inauguration Date - 19 March 2003
Incheon United (2004–present) Government of Incheon
Citizen Stockholder		 Shinhan Bank
Incheon International Airport		 Inauguration Date - 1 March 2004
Gyeongnam FC (2006–present) Government of Gyeongsangnam-do
Citizen Stockholder 		DSME
Gyeongnam Bank		 Inauguration Date - 17 January 2006
Gangwon FC (2009–present) Government of Gangwon-do
Citizen Stockholder 		High1 Resort Inauguration Date - 18 December 2008
Gwangju FC (2011–present) Government of Gwangju
Citizen Stockholder 		Gwangju Bank Inauguration Date - 16 December 2010
Sangju Sangmu Phoenix (2011–2012)
Sangju Sangmu (2013–present)		 Government of Sangju
Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps		 Inauguration Date - 26 February 2011
Seoul E-Land FC (2015–present) E-Land Group Inauguration Date - 22 August 2014

[1] Yokong renamed to SK Energy
[2] GS Group is separated from LG Group
[3] Hanil Bank is merged by Woori Bank
Note : Horang-i means tiger, Hwangso means bull, Chunma means pegasus, Bulsajo means phoenix.

Champions

Titles By Season

K League Classic (1983-)

Season Champions Runners-up
1983 Hallelujah FC Daewoo Royals
1984 Daewoo Royals Yukong Elephants
1985 Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso POSCO Atoms
1986 POSCO Atoms Luck-Goldstar Hwangso
1987 Daewoo Royals POSCO Atoms
1988 POSCO Atoms Hyundai Horang-i
1989 Yukong Elephants Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso
1990 Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso Daewoo Royals
1991 Daewoo Royals Hyundai Horang-i
1992 POSCO Atoms Ilhwa Chunma
1993 Ilhwa Chunma LG Cheetahs
1994 Ilhwa Chunma Yukong Elephants
1995 Ilhwa Chunma Pohang Atoms
1996 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i Suwon Samsung Bluewings
1997 Pusan Daewoo Royals Chunnam Dragons
1998 Suwon Samsung Bluewings Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
1999 Suwon Samsung Bluewings Pusan Daewoo Royals
 

2000—present

Season Champions Runners-up
2000 Anyang LG Cheetahs Bucheon SK
2001 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma Anyang LG Cheetahs
2002 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
2003 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
2004 Suwon Samsung Bluewings Pohang Steelers
2005 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i Incheon United
2006 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma Suwon Samsung Bluewings
2007 Pohang Steelers Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
2008 Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC Seoul
2009 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
2010 FC Seoul Jeju United
2011 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Ulsan Hyundai
2012 FC Seoul Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
2013 Pohang Steelers Ulsan Hyundai
2014 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Suwon Samsung Bluewings

K League Challenge (2013-present)

Season Champions Runners-up
2013 Sangju Sangmu Police FC
2014 Daejeon Citizen Gwangju FC

Titles By Club

Top Division

Club Champions Runners-up Winning Seasons Runners-up Seasons
Seongnam FC
7
3
 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 1992, 2007, 2009
FC Seoul
5
5
 1985, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2012 1986, 1989, 1993, 2001, 2008
Pohang Steelers
5
4
 1986, 1988, 1992, 2007, 2013 1985, 1987, 1995, 2004
Busan IPark
4
3
 1984, 1987, 1991, 1997 1983, 1990, 1999
Suwon Samsung Bluewings
4
3
 1998, 1999, 2004, 2008 1996, 2006, 2014
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
3
1
 2009, 2011, 2014 2012
Ulsan Hyundai
2
7
 1996, 2005 1988, 1991, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2013
Jeju United
1
4
 1989 1984, 1994, 2000, 2010
Hallelujah FC
1
0
 1983
Jeonnam Dragons
0
1
 1997
Incheon United
0
1
 2005

Second Division

Club Champions Runners-Up Winning Seasons Runners-up Seasons
Sangju Sangmu
1
0
 2013
Daejeon Citizen
1
0
 2014
Ansan Police
0
1
 2013
Gwangju FC
0
1
 2014

Records and statistics

Scorers

※ Following list is all-time top scorers in the K League. Goals are including K League Classic, K League Challenge and League Cup goals.

As of 30 November 2014
RankPlayerGoalsMatchesGoals per Match
1 South Korea Lee Dong-Gook 167 379 0.44
2 Montenegro Dejan Damjanović 141 230 0.61
3 South Korea Kim Eun-Jung 123 444 0.28
4 South Korea Woo Sung-Yong 116 439 0.26
5 South Korea Kim Do-Hoon 114 257 0.44
6 South Korea Kim Hyun-Seok 110 371 0.30
7 Serbia Saša Drakulić 104 271 0.38
8 South Korea Yoon Sang-Chul 101 300 0.34
9 South Korea Shin Tae-Yong 99 401 0.25
10 Brazil Eninho 80 210 0.38
(Italics denotes players still playing professional football,
Bold denotes players still playing in the K League).

Appearances

※ Following list is all-time most appearances in the K League. Appearances are including K League Classic, K League Challenge and League Cup goals.

As of 30 November 2014
RankPlayerAppearances
1 South Korea Kim Byung-Ji 679
2 South Korea Choi Eun-Sung 532
3 South Korea Kim Gi-Dong 501
4 South Korea Kim Sang-Sik 458
5 South Korea Kim Eun-Jung 444
6 South Korea Woo Sung-Yong 439
7 South Korea Kim Han-Yoon 430
8 South Korea Lee Woon-Jae 410
9 South Korea Shin Tae-Yong 401
10 South Korea Kim Hyun-Soo 383
(Italics denotes players still playing professional football,
Bold denotes players still playing in the K League).

Foreign Players

SeasonSquadPlay in matchNote
1983–199322
199432 If three players chosen to South Korea in one club,
three foreign players can play.
199533
1996–200053 From 1997 season, foreign goalkeepers were restricted in play the match.
* 1997 season : Two-third of all matches
* 1998 season : one-third of all matches
* From 1999 season : foreign goalkeepers were restricted in K League
2001–200273 Temporary operation due to support the World Cup
2003–200453
200543
2006–200833
2009–3+13+1 '+1' is Asian quota.

At the inception of the K League in 1983, only two Brazilian players made rosters. At the time, rules allowed each club to have three foreign players and that the three could also play simultaneously in a game. From the 1996 season, each team had five foreign players among whom three could play in a game at the same time. Moreover, from the 2000 season to the 2002 season, the limit on foreign players was expanded seven but only three could play in a game at the same time. The limit was lower to five in 2003, four in 2005, and three in 2007. From the 2009 season, the number of foreign players went back up to four per team, including a slot for a player from AFC countries.

In the 1985 season, Piyapong Pue-on of Thailand led foreign players in the league in scoring and assists. Other leading players were Rade Bogdanović, who had 10 goals and 10 assists in the 1996 season. Valeri Sarychev, the K League's most famous foreign goalkeeper, played in 320 league games from 1992 to 2004. He was eventually naturalized as a Korean citizen and given the Korean name Shin Eui-Son which means God's hand because of his stellar play.

In the 1990s, the trend was for the K League to get foreign players from Eastern Europe like Rade Bogdanović, Radivoje Manic, Saša Drakulić and Denis Laktionov. From 2000, Brazilians became the K League's priority such as Tavares, Mota, Nádson, Adilson and Edu. Since 2009, players from AFC have been fairly popular especially those from Australia, China PR, Japan and Uzbekistan.

Franchise relocations in K League

  • Not Franchised Period (1983–1986) : K League Clubs had franchise but clubs played the all game of round at one stadium.
  • Franchised Period (1987–present) : K League introduced home and away matches system in 1987.
  • Clubs which are not listed in the table don't have franchise relocations.
Club Original City / Area
(Joined Year)		 Not Franchised Period
1983-1986		 Franchised Period
1987–present
Pohang Steelers Daegu+Gyeongbuk (1983) N/A Pohang (1990 / 1988[1]-present)
Jeju United Seoul+Incheon+Gyeonggi (1983) Seoul (1984) Incheon+Gyeonggi (1987) ▶ Seoul (1991)
▶ Bucheon / Mok-dong, Seoul (1996)[2] ▶ Bucheon (2001) ▶ Jeju (2006–present)
Busan IPark Busan+Gyeongnam (1983) N/A Busan (1990 / 1989[1]-present)
Ulsan Hyundai Incheon+Gyeonggi (1984) Incheon+Gyeonggi+Gangwon(1986) Gangwon (1987) ▶ Ulsan (1990–present)
FC Seoul Chungcheong (1984) N/A Chungcheong (1987) ▶ Seoul (1990) ▶ Anyang (1996) ▶ Seoul (2004–present)
Seongnam FC Seoul (1989) N/A Cheonan (1996) ▶ Seongnam (2000–present)
Sangju Sangmu Gwangju (2003) N/A Gwangju (2003) ▶ Sangju (2011–present)

[1] K League officially began city franchise policy in 1990, But Pohang Steelers began in 1988 and Busan IPark began in 1989.
[2] Actually Bucheon SK held all home matches at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul until 2000. Because Bucheon Stadium was under construction.

K League Awards

Sponsorship

Start End Name
1983 1993
None
1994 1995 South Korea Hite
1996 1997 South Korea Rapido
1998 - South Korea Hyundai
1999 - South Korea Buy Korea
2000 - South Korea Samsung DigiTall
2001 - South Korea POSCO
2002 2008 South Korea Samsung Hauzen
2009 -
None
2010 - South Korea Hyundai Motor Company Sonata
2011 2014 South Korea Hyundai Oilbank

Crest

K League had 6 crests in total.[4]

  • 1994-1996
    (Unveiled : 1994-03-??)
  • 1997-1998
    (Unveiled : 1997-03-11)
  • 1999-2005
    (Unveiled : 1999-03-29)[1]
  • 2006-2009
    (Unveiled : 2006-02-28)[2]
  • 2010-2012
    (Unveiled : 2010-02-18)
  • 2013–present
    (Unveiled : 2013-01-03)[3]
  1. ^ 프로축구 엠블렘 확정 (in Korean). Kyunghyang Shinmun. 30 March 1999. 
  2. ^ "프로연맹, K리그 새 엠블렘 발표" (in Korean). Yonhap News. 28 February 2006. 
  3. ^ "<프로축구> 1부리그 이름 "K리그 클래식"(종합)" (in Korean). Yonhap News. 3 January 2013. 

References

  1. ↑ "In search of Korea’s disappearing Red Devils-INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily". Koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 2012-06-06. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  2. ↑ "South Korean Teams Fight for Attention at Home". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  3. ↑ "위원석의 하프타임 'K리그'에 새로운 이름을 붙여주자" (in Korean). The Daily Sports Seoul. February 19, 2013.
  4. ↑ "K리그의 서른한번째 생일이야기" (in Korean). KLeague.com. 8 May 2014.

External links